Gonorrhea

What Is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can affect both men and women. The bacteria responsible is Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which commonly affects warm and moist parts of the body. The common parts that get infected are urethra, vagina, anus, eyes, throat, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. It can also spread to babies during childbirth from an infected mother.

You can get infected through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex. People who have multiple sex partners are more at risk of getting infected. Alcoholism and drug abuse encourage people to have unprotected sex, thus making them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The ways to prevent these infections are by practicing safe sex, sexual abstinence, or avoiding multiple sexual partners (practice monogamy).

What Are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea?

People generally notice symptoms after 2 days to 2 weeks after being exposed. But, some do not show any symptoms and are called nonsymptomatic carriers. Such people tend to spread this infection, as they are not aware that they might be infected.

The symptom in women are:

• Watery or white creamy vaginal discharge.

• Pain or burning sensation on peeing.

• Increased urge to urinate.

• Frequent urination.

• Pain during sex.

• Sore throat.

• Intermenstrual bleeding or spotting.

• Fever.

• Sharp abdominal pain.

The symptoms in men are:

• Burning or pain on urination.

• Increased urge to urinate.

• Frequent urination.

• Pus discharge from the penis opening.

• The opening of the penis might be red and swollen.

• Testicles might get swollen or tender.

• Sore throat.

If gonorrhea affects other body parts, the symptoms include:

• Anal itching.

• Pus discharge from rectum.

• Blood in stools.

• Eye pain.

• Sensitivity to light.

• Eye discharge.

• Lymph node enlargement in the neck.

• Swollen and painful joints (septic arthritis).

In babies, gonorrhea usually affects the eyes.

What Causes Gonorrhea?

As already mentioned, gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

What Are the Risk Factors of Gonorrhea?

The risk factors include:

• New sex partner.

• Multiple sexual partners.

• Having unprotected sex.

• Previous gonorrhea infection.

• Young age.

• Drug abuse.

• History of other sexually transmitted diseases.

What Are the Tests Done to Diagnose Gonorrhea?

After taking a complete medical history, if your doctor suspects gonorrhea, you might be asked to perform the following tests to determine the presence of gonorrhea bacteria in your body:

• Urine test - Your urine is checked for bacteria.

• Swab test from the affected part - A swab is taken from your vagina, rectum, throat, etc., to look for the bacteria.

As gonorrhea increases the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases, your doctor might also suggest you undergo tests to infections like chlamydia and HIV.

What Is the Treatment for Gonorrhea?

As it is a bacterial infection, gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. The treatment options for uncomplicated gonorrhea are:

1. Injection Ceftriaxone and oral Azithromycin or Doxycycline.

2. Oral or injection Gentamicin and oral Azithromycin (in case the patient is allergic to Cephalosporins).

Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing, which makes the treatment more challenging. The antibiotic-resistant variant is treated with a seven-day course of two oral antibiotics, mostly Azithromycin and Doxycycline.

Even if your partner has no signs or symptoms of gonorrhea, he or she must undergo the treatment at the same time. Babies born to infected mothers are given antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection.

Avoid having sexual intercourse during and for 7 days after your treatment.

What Are the Complications of Gonorrhea?

If left untreated, gonorrhea can:

• Spread to the uterus and fallopian tube, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and infertility in females.

• Spread and cause inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis), which can make a man infertile if not treated.

• Infect the joints and bloodstream resulting in rashes, fever, joint pain and stiffness.

• Increase your risk of getting infected with HIV.

• Result in blindness and infection in babies.

How Can Gonorrhea Be Prevented?

Follow these tips to reduce the risk of gonorrhea:

• Abstinence from sex.

• Use a condom during sex.

• Change the condom between each sexual act.

• Get yourself and your partner tested for sexually transmitted infections.

• Avoid having sex with a partner who has genital sores or rashes.

• Avoid having multiple sexual partners.

• Regularly get screened for gonorrhea.

• Avoid unprotected sex.

It is important that the treatment be done together for a couple, even if one of them do not show any sign or symptom. As you might get reinfected by your partner after the treatment. If you or your partner is suffering from symptoms of gonorrhea, consult a doctor online immediately.